So as we all know most schools want, or claim they want, a well-rounded candidate. That just an outstanding GPA and GMAT score will not guarantee admissions. So to maximize the impact of my application I was considering trying to add some voluteer hours.

Now I have a couple of questions:

1. Do admissions officers really care that much about volunteering? If it's at best a distant after-thought or just a way to cement an otherwise admission worthy application package I might not be as tempted to find something.

2. Assuming it is a criterion they truly do covet in a applicant, what exactly are they looking for? Does it have to be business related, ie. fundrasising or being on the BOD for a charity, or would big brothers or working in a soup kitchen be acceptable as well? I guess Im asking if, in the eyes of b-schools, all volunteer hours are created equally?

3. I'm applying for Fall 2011 and I will be applying early. Will this leave enough time to get in some good hours without it being obvious to admissions boards that I've only started volunteering at the last minute in order to pad my application?

Any insight, ideas or personal stories regarding this would be a huge help!
_________________

G.T.L. - GMAT, Tanning, Laundry

Round 1: 05/12/10 handling-a-grenade-thesituation-s-official-debrief-94181.html

Round 2: 07/10/10 - This time it's personal.

Thanks for the response.

I think your right - the last minute flood of volunteering is probably obvious. I'm not sure if Im beyond that or not. However, as the linked article rightly points out - if your truly care about what your doing then it'll show. I just need to figure out what "that" is.

Anyone have any interesting extra-curricular activity suggestions? I'm into sports...maybe coaching or refereeing? Any stories, insights would be helpful!
_________________

G.T.L. - GMAT, Tanning, Laundry

Round 1: 05/12/10 handling-a-grenade-thesituation-s-official-debrief-94181.html

Round 2: 07/10/10 - This time it's personal.

Hi Currency:
Yes, admissions officers really do care and the degree is very much dependent on the school.
For example, UCLA, SOM, Tuck, Haas and GSB care extensively about your personal characteristics and ask questions directly around this. They want to know that the personal characteristics your have developed have been honed over time and are tested through a leadership example.

In my 8 years of experience in working with hundreds of clients, this has been the biggest x factor and often the missing piece of the puzzle of the "acceptance equation." Your "volunteerism" denotes a physical manifestation of the passions, values, norms and beliefs you have developed. So these types of activities, for a competitive applicant, can never be thought of as an afterthoughts, but rather a critical piece to your applicant profile. Coming late to the game, wrt volunteering, looks lame but is better than not volunteering at all IMHO.

All volunteering hours are not created equally. The best volunteering experiences will share 3 characteristics, they offer up a leadership opportunity and they allow you to possibly use your business skills in a professional setting, they provide for a cause that is greater than your own. As an example, think of things like StartingBloc, Riordan Programs and the Saturday Business Academy. These are all the perfect opportunities to blend professional experience while demonstrating the ability to produce a result that resonates with your values, norms and beliefs.

Your third question is partially answered above. However, it is better to start late than never as cliche as that may sound. Just make sure that you have a personal and professional connection to the volunteer experience. Please know that your volunteering selection is also critically important to your goals upon graduation, especially your longer term goals.

If I had to share a good personal story, it would be with an HBS admit I worked with for this year. He had the opportunity to work for a micro finance lender that he was "volunteering" with initially. As the organization grew, he took a sabbatical to fully engage this organization while taking time off from his exploits at a large accounting firm. Additionally, his family had a long history in developmental finance and banks in Asia. So this experience gave him the opportunity to blend a long family history with leadership in a personal and professional paradigm. This example showed that he could walk the social entrepreneurship talk and it put him over the line at HBS.

I hope this sheds some light. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
-Paul Lanzillotti


_________________

Paul Lanzillotti | Founder| About | mba@amerasiaconsulting.com | 877.866.9251

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Download "How To Apply" Guides | INSEAD | Columbia | Harvard | Wharton

Thanks for the love. Take a look at your longer term goals (ie. consulting), see what you have a gap in (ie. not enough strategy projects), volunteer for something like the USA Leadership Corps http://www.usaleadershipcorps.org/index.html

Respectfully,
Paul Lanzillotti


_________________

Paul Lanzillotti | Founder| About | mba@amerasiaconsulting.com | 877.866.9251

Schedule a Consultation | Twitter | Blog

Download "How To Apply" Guides | INSEAD | Columbia | Harvard | Wharton